Call for jihad to fight poverty

Call for jihad to fight poverty

MEDAN, North Sumatra: People's Consultative Assembly Speaker
Amien Rais has called on Muslims throughout the country to engage
in a jihad against poverty caused by the prolonged economic
crisis.

"I call on all Muslims in Indonesia to work hand in hand to
intensify our jihad (fight), especially the economic jihad, to
revive our shrinking economy," he said before a crowd of some
25,000 Minang (West Sumatra) migrants attending a gathering at
the Teladan Stadium here on Sunday.

Amien said Jihad did not mean to shoulder arms to fight the
enemy, "but to exert the whole potential of our mind, funds, time
and energy to improve the quality of our lives".

Amien also identified some urgent problems needing serious
handling, such as the high rate of unemployment. "There are now
almost 40 million people who are unemployed," he said.

He also called on all people to contemplate on their past and
find the right path towards a better future. --Antara